Cost Of Living in Menlo, IA

Get 300+ Local Insights for Any Address in Menlo, IA

Get Access to 300+ Local Data Points

A+

20%

Overall NAT. AVG.

1%

Groceries NAT. AVG.

57%

Housing NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.

The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index	Menlo	Iowa	National
Cost of living	80	89	100
Groceries	99	97	100
Health care	97	96	100
Housing	43	74	100
Transportation	96	97	100
Utilities	97	95	100
Lifestyle & Entertainment	91	95	100
Household Items	98	97	100
Education & Childcare	90	94	100

Does this Area Fit Your Budget?

Know the community before you call it home
Compare multiple areas side by side
Access over 300 data points for any address

GET REPORT →

Homes For Sale In Menlo, IA

304 5th St

Menlo, IA

See the Newest Homes For Sale In Menlo, IA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

The cost of living in Menlo is 11% lower than the Iowa average
The cost of living in Menlo is 20% lower than the national average
Menlo housing is 57% lower than the national average
Iowa general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
Iowa state income tax is 69% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Menlo

See all the best places to live around Menlo

Compare Menlo, IA Cost of Living

Write a review to give others more information about this area.

See all Menlo poll results

The best places in Iowa

Here are the best places to live in Iowa

Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in Iowa

See the best places to live in Menlo

Most Dangerous States In The US

Salary Calculator

This is how much you would need to earn in

Price difference in compared to

Cost of living index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index
Lifestyle index
Household index
Educare index

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median Income	Per Year	Per Month	Max Budget (28% DTI)	Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners	$96,496	$8,041	$2,251	$2,895
Renters	$0	$0	$0	$0

Iowa Sales Tax

State	General Sales Tax	With Max Surtax
Iowa	6%	7%

Iowa Income Tax

State	Income Tax (Low)	Income Tax (High)
Iowa	4.4%	6%

Nearby cities with low cost of living

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Casey, IA	428	82	18.3%
Greenfield, IA	1,805	83	17.5%
Guthrie Center, IA	1,599	85	14.8%
Stuart, IA	1,660	85	15.5%
Linden, IA	224	88	12.2%
Menlo, IA	481	80	20.2%

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Scammon Bay, AK	481	93	7.2%
Ray, AL	481	94	6.1%
Nazlini, AZ	481	82	18.2%
Allenspark, CO	481	137	37.2%
Calhan, CO	481	105	5.4%
Menlo, IA	481	80	20.2%